Thursday, September 20, 2007

Mya has stepped up for a good cause: The singer performed at Skool'd, a benefit event hosted by Richie Rich on Wednesday night at Sol in New York. Proceeds from last night's event will go to the Ali Forney Center and the Reciprocity Foundation — organizations that assist lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender homeless youth in New York.

Snap for the kids!

Keyshia Cole at her listening party in NYC. Check out her sophomore album, Just Like You when it drops on September 25, 2007.

Doesn't it just warm your heart when you hear about celebrities donating their time--and oftentimes, money--to a great cause geared toward helping the less fortunate...especially when the unfortunate ones include children battling cancer?

Celebrities Mike Epps, Wesley Jonathan and Lil' JJ came out to Chili's Grill & Bar in Inglewood, CA as part of Chili's "Celebrity/VIP Server" program in support of the annual Create-A-Pepper campaign that helps raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Epps, Jonathan and Lil JJ helped bring awareness to how L.A. residents can help fight childhood cancer just by stopping in to their local Chili’s restaurant and making a donation. The men donned Chili's Create-A-Pepper t-shirts and greeted guests, waited tables, took order and passed out coloring sheets for display in the restaurant. As a component of the Create-A-Pepper promotion, Chili’s donates 100 percent of its profits from one day's sales in September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, to St. Jude; this year, Donate Profits Day is Monday, September 24th. For more information on the Create-A-Pepper campaign and how one can lend support, please visit http://www.createapepper.com/.

A big shout out to, Miahluv, my fellow Cru family member for selectng Real Gossip 101 in hopes that it will encourage others to donate to this worthy cause that can save a child's life.

It looks like powerful twin duo Tia and Tamera Mowry had a ball while filming Twitches Too, the sequel to Disney's Original Movie, Twitches. They are too cute. It's kinda hard to believe that they're 29-years-old! You can tell by these candid pics that Tia is the more outgoing of the two...which is a stark contrast to her character in Sister, Sister. I swear my niece loves herself some Tia, Tamera, Raven...especially Raven...and that damn Hannah Montana girl! LOL! She's gonna love these pics!

Anyhoo, the movie, which was filmed in Toronto, Canada last April, is finished and will air on one of the many Disney Channels on October 12, 2007 during the network's Hauntober Fest.

Here's the movie's synopsis: After saving their birth mother (played by Kristin Wilson) and their home land of Coventry from the Darkness (which was revealed to be the twins' uncle/stepdad Thantos in the first film), it is time for the girls to learn about each other and what it means to have magic. While Camryn (Tamera Mowry) embraces the royal lifestyle in Coventry with her mother, Alex (Tia Mowry) is eager to begin her new life as a college student majoring in English Literature, with a flare for writing and a cute new guy friend, Marcus. In Coventry she's a princess - one of the twin heroines who saved the Kingdom. In all dimensions she's bright, determined and hard-working. While trying to live as normally as possible in their new surroundings, the evil darkness continues to threaten their existence. The sisters also uncover evidence that their missing father, Aron, may still be alive.

Check your local listings for repeat air times. And don't forget to check out Tia as 'Melanie Barrett' on the second season of The Game. It premieres Monday, October 1st on the CW.

MORE PICS OF THE TWINS ON THE SET OF TWITCHES TOO + THE TWITCHES TOO TRAILER AFTER THE JUMP!

Who else is surprised that O.J. was granted bail? With his track record, I just knew that they'd continue to consider him a flight risk thereby keeping him behind bars until his trial. He must've gotten the shock of his life earlier this week when he was led away in handcuffs and ordered held without bond. Well, so far he has Lady Luck on his side--but for how long? I think it would behoove him to enjoy what may be his last couple of weeks of freedom before he's convicted and sentenced on all 10 of those felony charges.

Dressed in a light blue sport coat, O.J. Simpson was released from the Clark County Detention Center Wednesday afternoon after posting $125,000 bail in connection with the armed robbery of sports memorabilia collectors at a Las Vegas hotel. The 60-year-old was freed about two hours after his court appearance, where Judge Joe Bonaventure Jr. outlined 11 criminal charges [see below], including first-degree kidnapping, which carries the possibility of life in prison with parole. "Mr. Simpson do you understand the charges against you?" Bonaventure asked.

"Yes, sir," said Simpson, wearing a blue jail uniform and handcuffs.Bonaventure also laid out a list of restrictions for his release, including surrendering his passport to his attorney and having absolutely no contact with co-defendants or potential witnesses. Dressed in dark prison clothes, Simpson entered the courtroom about 8:25 a.m. His hands were cuffed in front of him. In the audience packed with journalists were some members of Simpson's family.

PICS OF OJ & HIS FAMILY AT HIS COURT ARRAIGNMENT AFTER THE JUMP!

Simpson, who was released in the early afternoon, had been held without bail for about three days in a 7-foot-by-14-foot cell at the Clark County Detention Center. He is to return to his Florida home, his lawyer, Yale Galanter, said at a televised news conference. Before Simpson's release, Galanter praised the prosecution for its professionalism and said he expected authorities to move quickly to free Simpson. "They want to get him out as soon as possible," he said, noting the media hoopla.

Simpson did not talk to the media.

Galanter said the defense team, which includes local lawyer Gabriel L. Grasso, succeeded in its goal to get a "fair and reasonable bond and get Mr. Simpson to go home to his family."

The Heisman Trophy winner’s co-defendants - Walter Alexander, Clarence Stewart and Michael McClinton – received similar charges in connection with the alleged incident. Detectives were still searching for two unidentified men seen on hotel camera footage carrying boxes that police believe had some of the collectibles taken during the robbery. Simpson will be represented by his Florida lawyer, Yale Galanter, and Las Vegas lawyer Gabriel Grasso. The prosecution will be run by District Attorney David Roger and Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Owens. Both have handled some of Las Vegas' most high-profile cases, including the first Ted Binion murder trial and the Laughlin River Run riot, reports the Las Vegas Review Journal.

O.J. Simpson -- flanked by attorneys

Gabriel L. Grasso, left, and Yale

Galanter -- appears in a Las Vegas

courtoom Wednesday.

Simpson's sister Mattie Shirley Simpson

Baker, center, chats with his daughter,

Arnelle.

Simpson leaving courthouse.

As of press time, Simpson was due to catch a flight back to his Florida home. Galanter said Simpson will plead not guilty to all of his charges, listed below:

• Two counts of first-degree kidnapping, a felony, carrying the possibility of life in state prison or a definite term of 15 years, depending on the sentencing judge's discretion. Parole eligibility begins after five years.

• Two counts of robbery with use of a deadly weapon, a felony, mandatory 2-15 years in prison, plus a possible additional 1-15 years for use of a weapon.

• Burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon, felony, 2-15 years.

• Coercion with use of a deadly weapon, a felony, 2-12 years in prison.

• Two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, felony, 1-6 years.

• Conspiracy to commit kidnapping, felony, 1-6 years.

• Conspiracy to commit robbery, felony, 1-6 years.

• Conspiracy to commit a crime, gross misdemeanor, 1 year in county jail.

Color me confused, conflicted and confounded. Just when I thought Beyonce, her mama Tina and her sister Solange couldn't get anymore tackier with the shit they call quality merchandise, they pull something like this on me. These heffas took it upon themselves to design high school class rings. Now, either Tina's wig is too tight and/or Beyonce lost a little bit of common sense after free-falling down that flight of stairs during her concert in Orlando, because they have truly crossed the line. Solange is included too. I'm trying to understand why they're doing what they're doing and the only thing I can come up with is maybe they're trying to give others what they never had because, and I kind of chuckled to myself after realizing, Beyonce and Solange never graduated from high school. But still, come on now! House of Dereon class rings? For damn near $500.00?!! No maam. That is not the business.

Now, the ad below softened me up a little. They got to me with the little baby. How adorable is she?! Now this may be old news to some of you, but it's all new to me. As you can see from the ad, the House of Dereon is introducing it's latest line: Dereon Baby. This new line will feature children's clothing, of course. I can see myself gaining some interest in this...naw, I'm lying. Okay, a little bit of a lot...but not a whole lot...just an iota of a lot. No, I can't. Then again...who knows? I guess it just goes to show that the House of Dereon won't be closing its doors anytime soon.

I haven't found any press releases regarding the official launch of the clothing line; the only thing I have to go by is the ad itself. I think it's safe to say that since Dereon Baby print ads are already appearing in different publications, it shouldn't be long before we find out more of what this brand has to offer.

Would you believe it if I told you that there's a list of Hollywood's 25 most ugliest celebrities? Would you believe it if I told you that I understand why several celebrities made the list? Would you be surprised if I told you that I believe a couple of celebrities, whose faces resemble a pot of homemade chicken soup, are the same celebs who should have made at least the top 5 but instead were left off the list? Would you like for me to just shut the hell up and post the list damn list already? Would you be pissed if I said calm your ass down and I'll post them when I good and ready? Would you believe it if....Okay I'll stop.

One question: Did your favorite celeb make the list? Check out the list below to find out.